Odstock Parish Council

An Ordinary meeting of Odstock Parish Council was held on 21st March 2007 in The Radnor Hall, Bodenham.

Present: Rod Poynting (Chairman), Brian Clake, Sherwood Elcock, Simon Martin, Colin Berry, Richard Parsons (Clerk), Salisbury District Cllr Bryan Rycroft, Wiltshire County Cllr Julian Johnson and six members of the public.
Apologies: Cliff Whitley (Vice-Chairman) and Sue Martin.

01/07 Annual Parish Meeting: 1. The Presentation by Police Community Beat Officer PC Jem Horner and a Support Officer was well received. PCSO Mark Brand advised that his role was to provide a friendly visible police presence.
2. The suggestion that a Parish Plan should be initiated with primary input from parishioners received no support.
3. The Chairman reported that he hoped parishioners were satisfied with the performance of the PC. The Play Area and Store in the Nunton Field had been completed on time and within budget, four large skips had been provided during October, support had been pledged to the Radnor Hall Committee and the annual precept had not been increased.

02/07 Declaration of Interest: Cllr Martin declared a personal interest in matters relating to the Nunton field.

03/07 Minutes of the PC meeting held on 6th December were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman. 

04/07 Matters Arising: Shepherds Close Carpark: No progress to report from SDC Legal Services. 

05/07 Radnor Hall Proposals: Members reviewed plans submitted by The Radnor Hall Committee and were impressed. The SDC Planning Application S/2007/0365 will be supported. 

06/07 Future Improvements in the Nunton Field: 
a) Seats and Paving: Cllr Whitley's report (appended) indicated that only one contractor had submitted a quotation. Members approved the quote of £1,350+VAT for the paved area. A pair of custom seats is being manufactured.
b) Play Area: Members approved the quote of £450+VAT for remedial work to the safety surfacing.
c) Base for white lining store: A quote of £125+VAT would only be accepted if there were a confirmed need. This would be apparent if the football teams agreed to commit to new terms of use for future hire of the Football Pitch.

07/07 Neighbourhood Policing Team: Matt Holland at Alderbury Police Station, Tel: 0845-408-7000 ext. 742-820.

08/07 Parish Council Elections on 3rd May: Nomination papers must be submitted to SDC by noon on 4th April.

09/07 Finance:
a) Annual Return 2007/8: Members approved the re-appointment of the PC's Internal Auditor.
b) Grass Cutting 2007/8: Members approved the quotation of £438.32+VAT for cutting the Odstock Playingfield. Members noted that it could cost as much as £100+VAT per cut for one-off cuts of the Nunton Field. 
c) Receipts: Cllr Clake submitted a football pitch fee report for 2006/07 together with a cash balance of £120.
d) Payments: The following were approved:
Sodexho Land Technology Ltd - Grass Cutting - 247 - £485.87p
R Parsons - Clerk's fee and expenses ----------- 248 - £652.38p

10/07 Transport, Roads and Footpaths:
a) WCC Parish Steward: Remedial drainage work required at Odstock Crossroads.
b) Nunton Drove: A resident is still concerned that passing tractors is damaging his road frontage. Cllr Martin undertook to impress upon tractor drivers the importance of taking greater care.
c) A338 at Bodenham: There was a general discussion about resurfacing work scheduled for November 2007. It was agreed that News and Notes should be used to canvas villagers' opinions. 
d) Car Parking at Salisbury District Hospital: Members believe that extending the double yellow lines further down the hill towards Odstock would help to encourage better use of the Hospital's car-parking arrangements. 

11/07 Planning: The surprise refusal of S/2006/2659 was discussed. Members will be alert to the likely resubmission.
S/2007/0358 - Play Area and Chain Link Fence at Nunton School, SP5-4EN. - No Objection. 
S/2007/0501 - Detached Garage at Presses House, Nunton. SP5-4HN. - No Objection. 

12/07 Reports and Correspondence:
a) CC&WWD AONB: The Chairman and Clerk agreed to attend the forum meeting at Nadder Hall on 28th March.
b) WCC: A bid for Unitary Authority status in the whole of Wiltshire excluding Swindon had been submitted.
c) WALC: Members noted that the Chairman and his wife had been selected to attend a Buckingham Palace Garden Party on 17th July, represent Wiltshire Town and Parish Councils.

13/07 The 2007 Annual Parish Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 16th May.

The meeting closed at 8:52pm 

Signed without amendment by the PC Chairman, Cllr Rod Poynting, on 16th May 2007.
Download here as a .pdf file.

Draft minutes of this meeting, published here on 29th March 2007